ICCI Organizes Diplomatic Roundtable to Strengthen Pakistan's Economic Ties
ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) hosted a significant Roundtable Conference of Senior Diplomats and Commercial Counsellors on Friday, with a clear focus on enhancing economic diplomacy and fostering greater trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the global business community. This event brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for boosting international economic engagement.
ICCI President Highlights Pakistan's Investment Potential
Addressing the forum, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood emphasized Pakistan's vast trade and investment opportunities, pointing to an increasingly business-friendly environment shaped by economic reforms, improved ease of doing business, and robust private-sector involvement. He stated that Pakistan, particularly Islamabad, offers a secure and attractive ecosystem for foreign investors, with expanding prospects across various sectors.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood outlined ICCI's proactive role in promoting exports and investment through several key initiatives:
- Facilitating B2B linkages to connect businesses
- Organizing international trade delegations for market expansion
- Encouraging joint ventures to foster collaboration
- Engaging policymakers for regulatory simplification
- Providing market intelligence to exporters and investors
He reaffirmed ICCI's commitment to acting as a bridge between the government, diplomatic missions, and the business community to translate opportunities into tangible economic outcomes.
Importance of Diplomatic Engagement and Government Initiatives
Sardar Tahir Mehmood underlined the critical role of Commercial Counsellors and Economic Attachés in:
- Facilitating market access for Pakistani businesses
- Guiding companies on regulatory frameworks
- Identifying emerging opportunities in global markets
He noted that structured and continuous engagement with diplomatic missions would help Pakistani businesses integrate into global value chains and diversify export markets, briefly referencing the Islamabad Sister Cities Initiative as a platform supporting these efforts.
Additional Secretary from the Prime Minister’s Office, Zulfiqar Ali, highlighted the Prime Minister's initiatives for promoting trade, investment, and exports. Director General Trade Policies at the Ministry of Commerce, Shafeeq Ahmed Shehzad, informed participants that comprehensive measures are being undertaken to improve ease of doing business, including tariff rationalization and policy reforms.
International Diplomats Appreciate Pakistan's Potential
Diplomats from various countries expressed strong interest in Pakistan's economic prospects. Representatives from:
- Yemen, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, Iran, South Korea, Tunisia, and Kyrgyzstan
appreciated ICCI's initiative and termed Pakistan a promising destination for trade and investment. They conveyed their countries' interest in joint ventures and enhancing bilateral trade volumes, signaling growing international confidence in Pakistan's market.
Commitment to Sustained Economic Collaboration
In his vote of thanks, former ICCI President and Convener of the ICCI Standing Committee on Diplomatic Affairs, Zafar Bakhtawari, emphasized the importance of connectivity and sustained institutional engagement for promoting multifaceted economic relations among countries. He appreciated the participation of diplomatic missions and reaffirmed ICCI's commitment to serving as a platform for economic collaboration.
Senior Vice President ICCI Tahir Ayub, who conducted the proceedings as master of ceremony, provided insightful references to the historical, geographical, and economic significance of the participating countries. Convener of the Islamabad Cities Initiative, Sajid Iqbal, presented the concept note of the roundtable.
The conference was also attended by ICCI Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Committee members, and a large number of representatives from the trade and industrial community, who termed the event a significant step toward strengthening Pakistan's economic diplomacy and international business engagement.
